A group of residents is organizing to protest plans to build a $300 million casino off Thompson Hill Road.

The Casino at East Greenbush is proposed by Saratoga Casino and Raceway to be built off the north end of the road near the intersection with Route 4. South along the street are several single family residences.

"This is terrible," said Dwight Jenkins of 41 Thompson Hill Road. "You're going to put it at the end of a neighborhood."

Jenkins, who describes himself as a citizen activist, has questioned the town's finances and sewer problems.

Saratoga Casino and Raceway filed its $1 million application fee with the state to proceed in the approval process for winning one of up to four casino licenses to be issued for upstate facilities.

Greenbush GB Associates LLC, which is associated with Saratoga Casino and Raceway, purchased the 64-acre site for $2 million, according to deeds filed with the Rensselaer County Clerk's Office.

The documents to create Greenbush GB were filed on Feb. 13 with the state Department of State, according to the department's website.

The company's original name was listed as Greenbush Casino Associates LLC, according to the department's website. The current name was substituted on April 9, according to information on the website.

Rita Cox, a spokeswoman and vice president for Saratoga Casino and Raceway, said the firm anticipated it would hear from some residents opposing the casino development.

"There's always going to be some kind of opposition to this type of development in a casino," Cox said.

Cox said the Casino at East Greenbush would create new jobs as well as revenue for local government

The company plans to make a public presentation about the project. A date has not yet been selected for this meeting, Cox said.

The anti-casino forces plan to rally at 6 p.m., May 21, at Town Hall before the start of the Town Board meeting. The goal is to influence the board members

"I think if they see a large number of people, it might convince them to do the right thing," Jenkins said.

Plans call for handing out fliers in the town to help turn out casino opponents.

The state wants to see public support for a casino in the community. Rensselaer County and town voters supported the state constitutional amendment in November that allows the Las-Vegas style casinos. The Rensselaer County Legislature and Town Board have each passed resolutions backing the construction of a casino.